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ENJOY! Shenandoah County Living APRIL 2015
Pinwheels planted by Response Inc. spin outside the Shenandoah County Circuit Courthouse in Woodstock. Rich Cooley/Daily
Response Inc. aims to break cycle of abuse violence
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here is only one place in Shenandoah County that addresses sexual abuse and domestic violence. Response Inc., Shenandoah County’s primary resource combating domestic violence and sexual abuse, wants a different response to whether cultural attitudes have changed toward these crimes.
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We want kids or adults who are dating to be comfortable talking about sex and consent. If they canʼt talk about consent, they are probably not ready for sex. Jennifer Morrison, Executive Director of Response Inc.
The students then play roles for all participants — judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, victim, defendant, Providing sanctuary, hope and healing witnesses and most importantly, the jury. to victims of sexual assault and “The jury has never found the perpedomestic violence, the nonprofit trator guilty (in 21 trials),” said organization has conducted mock rape trials with junior and senior high Jennifer Morrison, 49, executive director of Woodstock-based Response Inc. school students three times annually “There have been some hung juries for the past seven years. The scenario of the mock trial reviews but we are not seeing a societal the legal definition of rape and sets up change in the attitudes of young people. We would love to try (the mock circumstances of the assault to meet trials) with adults.” the definition. Lawyers and law enforcement officials provide real-life “You would think we would be makconsultation over the three-day period. ing progress, but the (rape) statistics The anecdotal evidence isn’t a nice answer.
are not going down,” said Morrison. That hasn’t deterred the organization or those who volunteer to help. “It is the only source there is in the county for sexual assault and domestic violence,” said Peggy Boston, a volunteer Response board member for more than 10 years. “It is a pretty somber organization and that makes it a little harder to get the word out. We want people to know we do more than just house people.” Response provides companions to victims being examined due to sexual assault, employment and financial
counseling, parental education and court advocacy, and sponsors various support groups. A school outreach program provides educational presentations on domestic violence, sexual assault and teen dating in middle and high schools. A Teen Advisory Board is sponsored and a nationally accredited Child Assault Prevention Project addresses second grade students in Shenandoah County schools, teaching assault prevention skills to children, their parents and teachers. “They put a lot of energy into these programs,” said Boston. “They spent years getting into the schools and now teens help with fundraisers. Prevention is the best direction to go.” Such issues resonate in the public arena these days with the discredited story of gang rape at the University of Virginia and the popularity of the graphic sexual domination-themed book and movie “Fifty Shades of Grey.” SEE RESPONSE, PAGE A6
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By Tom Crosby